The term "Arcana," extracted from the Latin "arcanum," alludes to the mysteries or secrets encompassed within a Tarot deck. This deck is distinctly divided into two halves: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana, each replete with its symbolic depth and insightful narratives.
The Major Arcana: Unraveling Life's Grand Narrative
The Major Arcana forms the crux of the Tarot, representing the profound journey of life. It comprises 22 individual cards, numbered from 0 (The Fool) to 21 (The World), each resonating with major life milestones, spiritual lessons, and personal growth phases. These cards, often referred to as 'trumps,' illustrate the archetypal saga known as the Fool's Journey, mirroring our personal voyage from naivety to enlightenment. Within these cards, we encounter symbols embodying universal human experiences and spiritual archetypes, including The Lovers, Death (symbolizing change or transformation), and The Hermit.The Minor Arcana: Microcosm of Daily Life
While the Major Arcana explores the broader themes of life, the Minor Arcana delves into the intricate details of daily existence. This section of the deck includes 56 suit cards, capturing the routine ebbs and flows that color our lives. The Minor Arcana is subdivided into four suits: Cups, Pentacles (or Coins), Wands (or Staves), and Swords. Each suit corresponds to an element (Water, Earth, Fire, Air), and a sphere of life (emotions, material world, creativity, intellect), taking us on a journey from Ace (the suit's potential) to Ten (the completion of the suit's journey), interspersed with four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.The Major and Minor Arcana: Inner Reflections
Both the Major and Minor Arcana serve as a reflective pool to our deepest selves. These cards guide us through our life's journey, assist in decrypting our life's enigmas, and facilitate exploration of our subconscious mind's hidden recesses. By developing a deep understanding of these cards and skillfully employing them, we can unlock the profound wisdom of the Tarot, transforming it into an instrument for introspection, informed decision-making, and personal evolution.Major Arcana:
- The Fool (0)
- The Magician (I)
- The High Priestess (II)
- The Empress (III)
- The Emperor (IV)
- The Hierophant (V)
- The Lovers (VI)
- The Chariot (VII)
- Strength (VIII)
- The Hermit (IX)
- Wheel of Fortune (X)
- Justice (XI)
- The Hanged Man (XII)
- Death (XIII)
- Temperance (XIV)
- The Devil (XV)
- The Tower (XVI)
- The Star (XVII)
- The Moon (XVIII)
- The Sun (XIX)
- Judgement (XX)
- The World (XXI)
Minor Arcana:
Cups (Water - Emotions)
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
Pentacles (or Coins) (Earth - Material World)
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
Wands (or Staves) (Fire - Creativity)
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
Swords (Air - Intellect)
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
